Rickie Lambert saved nPower Championship leaders Southampton from defeat to Blackpool, but their 21-match home winning streak came to an end in the process.

Lambert had put the Saints ahead after half an hour, but Blackpool fought back to take the lead through goals from Chris Basham and Callum McManaman, the second of which came as a result of a horrendous error from Southampton’s stand-in keeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

The table toppers never gave up though, and Lambert nodded in the equaliser in injury-time to give them a share of the spoils.

After the game manager Nigel Adkins wasn’t too downhearted about the loss of their 100 per cent record, and said: “It had to go some time. If you had said at the start of the season we would win 10 and draw the other of our first 11 home games I would have taken it without a moment's hesitation.”

West Ham wasted the chance to go joint top as they lost 3-0 to Reading and went down to nine men.

Seconds after Joey O’Brien was sent off for his second booking the Royals took the lead through Alex Pearce. Simon Church doubled the lead before Jack Collinson’s wild lunge on Jimmy Kebe was punished with a red card.

Church then scored again to put the game beyond doubt.

Ipswich halted their seven-match losing run with a thrilling comeback against Barnsley at Oakwell.

The Tykes were 2-0 up at half-time through a Craig Davies penalty and a Ricardo Vaz Te header, but the visitors rallied through a Keith Andrews double, Danny Collins, Michael Chopra and Jason Scotland to make it 5-2.

Davies then curled in a free-kick so the eight goal thriller ended 5-3.

Two goals from Marlon King secured a 2-1 win for Birmingham, who had been behind against Doncaster.

Marc-Antoine Fortune put Donny ahead before King’s brace in the last half hour turned the game on its head.

Derby also grabbed a 2-1 victory after being one down against Bristol City. Martyn Woodford put City one up but The Rams replied with goals from Craig Bryson and Callum Ball to record their first victory in six.

Leicester and Peterborough shared the points at the King Power Stadium after Lee Tomlin headed an equaliser for the visitors. Paul Gallagher had put The Foxes’ noses in front.

Leeds also snatched a point against Watford thanks to Robert Snodgrass’s last minute penalty. Michael Kightly had put the Hornets a goal to the good but Marvin Sordell missed a spot kick of his own that would have put Leeds to bed.

Corey Evans got the only goal as Hull beat bottom side Coventry 1-0 and Middlesbrough overcame Brighton by the same score thanks to Scott McDonald.

There were also 1-0 wins for Portsmouth at Burnley - David Norris scoring in injury time - and Crystal Palace at Nottingham Forest - Glen Murray sealing the win.

Cardiff are now nine games unbeaten but failed to break the deadlock against Millwall at The Den, where a game of few chances ended 0-0.

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport - Football Page and you will get this directly to you.